A new start ~ Little Ballerinas

I've been wanting to start on Little Ballerinas and once I saw Loreta's blog with a picture of her start, I just had to make a start on mine. Thought I would begin with the border as I've seen other people do with their projects. I don't usually start this way for fear of making an error. Fortunately today none were made. I spent most of the day on it.

CCN Little Ballerinas - started 29 June 2008 using 28ct Natural Pearl Linen

This is such a cute design and in keeping with the simplicity of CCN and LHN patterns.

I am stitching this as a gift for my niece's birthday next February. She will be turning four. A present which I hope she will cherish for years to come.

Pretty In Pink kitted

I received some linen in the mail during the week. This piece is from an order I did a while back, in which I'm still receiving out of stock items. Because I've been waiting so long to get everything, I've been given a lager cut of fabric than what I ordered, which I thought was nice. I did the order through Handcrafts Online.

BRIGHTNEEDLE Pretty In Pink - kitted with 32ct R & R Antique Cotton fabric

So the reason I ordered this was for the chart by Brightneedle called Pretty In Pink. I've had it in my stash for ages. It has patterns for a darling pinkeep and fob. They've been stitched one over one thread which I'd like to try when I eventually do this. It gives it a more delicate look.


The threads used for this are Anchor, DMC, Sampler Threads, and Weeks Dye Works. What a variety!

The companion piece for this design, if you like blue, is called Something Blue. Both really cute.

A little night stitching

I was able to do a little more on QG Wednesday night. It's like when you read a book that has short chapters, this design. You can do little sections at a time. Here's where I'm up to...

Quaker Garden - 25 June 2008 scanned image

OK, so if you couldn't work out where I'd done my last mistake, I'll let you know. The pink motive top left of the urn I'd done the smyrna cross in pink (Red Pear). Later on I discovered it should have been stitched in Shaker White. Since it was such a small mistake, and I know I could have left it as it was, I decided to pull it out and do it in the right colour. It really wouldn't have mattered either way though.

I'm off work today as I have a cold. I went yesterday, and by the end of the day I felt worse than when I started. I had little energy left, so I thought I'd have today off to get my strength back. With the weekend also, I should be right by Monday to go back to work.

Sunday stitching

Still working on Quaker Garden and yesterday I was able to get some more done. Am I loving it still? Yes, I certainly am. It's an easy one to do, though you wouldn't think perhaps with the mistakes I'm making with it :). Found another little one which was rectified easily. I'll let you see if you can notice it. You'll need to look at my previous pics to compare though.

Quaker Garden - 22 June 2008

Not really sure how long it's going to take to complete this design. I'm very tempted to start on CCN Little Ballerinas but will still hold off for now.

A little more to show

I have some more progress on QG to show. I was stitching quite slowly tonight as I didn't want to make another mistake with this one, so not much progress was achieved.

Quaker Garden - 20 June 2008

I lodged my passport application yesterday for my trip in September to the Cook Islands. Since I haven't been overseas for 17 years a new one was called for. Must admit, I got a little excited. As time draws closer it becomes more and more real that I'm actually going. I'm looking forward to some lazy days amongst the sun, sand and sea.

Another SB must have

I've just had a look at Shepherd's Bush website and they have another chart up called In A Stable. Another one similar to She Tends but with their Just Cross Stitch ornaments theme from past years. 2000 Years Ago leaflet was the first of this series of ornament patterns they've released. I'm sure there would be a lot of people out there who could turn these cuties into wonderful finished pieces.

Shepherd's Bush - In A Stable chart

My plans haven't worked out as I would have liked this week. I've been a bit busy so I haven't made any more progress on Quaker Garden, but I will try to do some work on it tomorrow night.

A new look and new LHN

I've finally taken the plunge and changed the template of my blog. It's the same as my stash blog as I quite liked the look of it. Hope you enjoy the change too.

Now to some needlework talk. Little House Needleworks have released a couple of new charts that I've fallen in love with. Will definitely get these in the future - they are a must have.

LHN - Little House Neighbourhood

LHN - Yesteryear

No stitching since Friday I'm afraid. Had a busy weekend looking for birthday presents for family members. Two days over the weekend is not enough time to get everything done (especially if one wants to stitch also!). Hopefully I'll get a little more done on QG during the week nights.

Back on track and a little stash

Yay! I was able to get some more done on QG last night. Made sure I checked and checked again as I went along. No mistakes!:) I can't sing high enough praises on this one. I just love the design so much.

BBD Quaker Garden - 13 June 2008

Some fabric arrived in the mail yesterday too. It was part of an order I did a while ago with Handcrafts Online. I've been getting it bit by bit as they get the stock in. This fabric is a 40ct which I haven't had before. I've got it for the Blackbird Designs pattern from the Thank You Sarah Tobias book called Sarah Tobias. This is the main design on the front cover. Whether I keep it for it or decide to do another pattern with the fabric remains to be seen. Whatever I do, it will be a challenge using this count of fabric. I think I'll have to stitch on it during the Summer months when the light is better.

Included with my packet was a skein of thread which I hadn't ordered. This was a thank you gift for waiting so long to get the items I'd ordered. What a lovely surprise! I'm sure it will come in very handy. I also have a couple more pieces of fabric to come from this same order, both in R & R Antique Cotton.

40ct R & R Light Espresso and Carrie's Creation floss in Multi Grain

How delightful needlework is. I'm so glad I found it as my hobby!

I found the mistake!

After I'd posted last night I thought I would have another look at where I'd gone wrong with Quaker Garden. Since the design part looked ok, the bottom pattern was looking good, I then had a look at the left side border. I looked at the bottom left corner of it and there it was - I discovered I'd started in the wrong position with it. Damn! I began one (ONE mind you) thread lower than I should have.

When it comes to my needlework, I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I try to do the best I can. So knowing this it probably doesn't come as quite a shock to know that I decided to pull the threads out from that section and will start again. I started taking some of them out last night, then did the rest tonight. I didn't want to start stitching again straight away but will hopefully do some tomorrow night after work.

Quaker Garden - 12 June 2008

QG after having to pull threads out from making a stitching error

Don't worry though, I haven't lost any enthusiasm for it. I still love this design and will get right back into it. I'll have to be more careful in the future with my counting. I should have learned my lesson with LHN's My Needle's Work after a similar mistake. I do tend to make the odd error like this with my stitching though.

Hope everyone's having better luck with their creations.

Things don't always go according to plan...

Well, yes I did do a little more of QG tonight but not very much. Here's what happened...

I started stitching then half an hour later thought I'd better phone Mum to ask her how her day went. You see, she had a lady visit her today whom she's never met before, to have a look at all her needlework. It's someone I've met at work who stitches also and I suggested she go round and look at what Mum's done. They both had a lovely day and the lady admired what Mum had to show her. She was particularly interested in the Shepherd's Bush designs and Come Tarry was a favourite since she hadn't seen it stitched up before.

So I finished speaking to Mum, then I did a bit more stitching and the phone rings. No, it wasn't Mum again, it was one of my sisters to have a chat.

After speaking to her for a short while I picked up my stitching again. Before my sister had phoned I suddenly realised that I'm one or two stitches out on QG! I'm talking to her and at the same time trying to work out where the mistake is. I know I've done something wrong, but for the life of me I can't work out how. I could probably fudge it and get away with it, then again it's going to bug me where I've gone wrong. I've looked over and over it. I discovered it wasn't right when doing the left border part. The letters are too close and I've had to do a couple extra crosses with the two vertical lines.

So after all that I didn't achieve much progress.

Quaker Garden - 11 June 2008

Just when I was enjoying this one too. Not to worry I'll figure it out.

She Tends

Shepherd's Bush have a few new things coming out towards the end of June for the upcoming Columbus Market and this one would have to be my fave from the group.

SHEPHERD'S BUSH - She Tends chart

Not 100% sure about Sail Away. I think it's all that blue thread going through it that puts me off slightly. I would have to see some one stitch it before I decide on this one.

I'm planning on doing a little more work on Quaker Garden tomorrow night. Let's just see shall we?

A day of stitching

How lovely it is to spend all afternoon on my needlework. This is what I got done...

Quaker Garden - 8 June 2008

Quaker Garden is so enjoyable that if you love Blackbird Designs and you haven't done this one, then I would say try to get a hold of this chart and stitch it, because you'll love it. I was lucky to get this chart in Australia since it's now been retired and hard to get in the US. I thought I may have to bid for one on eBay (which aren't going cheaply), so I was happy when I found one here at a reasonable price.

This is such an easy one to do. I love, love, love it!!! I may just continue with it a bit more before starting on CCN Little Ballerinas, because it mightn't take me as long as I initially thought it would to complete. I thought I was going to have to spend a few months on it, but I can see me finishing it a lot sooner than that.

Sex And The City movie ~ Little Ballerinas

I went to the pictures tonight to see Sex In The City, since it's just been released here in Australia this week. I loved it! Very funny (especially Samantha's part), a few teary bits, and one hilarious dog. If you're a fan of the TV show then you can't miss this movie, you won't be disappointed.

No stitching to tell of but I do plan to get some work done on QG tomorrow. I love it when I can spend most of the day dedicated towards my stitching.

Meanwhile I'm going to start on something else soon. I don't normally have two projects on the go at the same time, but I'm going to give it a try. The reason being is that the other item I want to do is for my niece. She will be four next February and I want to get it finished well before then, so I can give it to her for her birthday. So I'm allowing myself plenty of time to complete it. It's such a cutie. The pattern is from Country Cottage Needleworks, from their Country Cottage Kids range called Little Ballerinas. I've got all the things needed to complete it. I just want to get a bit more into Quaker Garden before I make a start on this.

CCN - Little Ballerinas kitted
28ct Natural Pearl Linen with Crescent Colours and DMC threads

Will let you know how I go on QG tomorrow.

I've got the stitching bug!

I sat down tonight and worked some more on QG. This is such a delight to do and I'm liking the way there's little pictures within the whole design. Keeps the interest going - not that I've done enough to get bored with it yet.

Quaker Garden - 4 June 2008

I'm really happy with the fabric and thread colours too. They go so well together.

Last year I did hardly any stitching and wasn't in the mood for it really. This year though, and I think updating my blog more regularly and looking at other blogs has helped, I've got the stitching bug back and enjoying it so much. It's such a wonderful past time.

Thanks to everyone that has a stitching blog, because you are such an inspiration to all of us out there and an encouragement to get out our needles and stitch away.

Another blog and a little stitch

Since I'm getting a reputation as a 'stash queen' I've decided to create another blog with a list of all my stash. I've done separate entries for my favourite designers: Shepherd's Bush, LHN, CCN, and Blackbird Designs. Then I've made another list of all the other designers I have. Don't worry so much about the blog heading. It's supposed to be called Miss Jane's Stash, but I can't replace the name without taking away the top part of the blog (including the buttons - which I like - and background colour). I'll be updating it whenever I buy any stash. There's also a permanent link for it under my 'links' heading in my sidebar.

I also worked a little on QG last night. Didn't get much done (as per normal) but I'm happy whenever I get something done. This design is different to what I have stitched in the past, so it will an enjoyable one for me to do.

Quaker Garden - 2 June 2008

That's it for now - chat again with you later.

Edited to add:

Thanks to Nicole for helping me out with my stash blog heading. You're a gem!

Buttons, pins and more

I haven't worked on QG since the last post so I thought I would show you a picture of a couple of items I bought last week at a local department store. Some mother of pearl buttons and an assortment of pins for needlework. The pins are actually for scrapbooking, but since I don't do this I thought they can be used for pinkeeps in the future.

The next picture is of a few charts I won on eBay recently. All Blackbird Designs and ones that are hard to come by elsewhere. It's funny how you discover a designer and start looking into what they've brought out, then you become a fan of theirs. I've got a few of their charts now.

BLACKBIRD DESIGNS - Winter Delivery, Tulip Manor, and Truly Thine

Well, not much else happening. I've always got plenty of stash to write about though, so I'll save some more for another day.

Bye for now!